Space Sci Rev (2011) 163:117–139 DOI 10.1007/s11214-011-9809-5 Surface Composition of Vesta: Issues and Integrated Approach
© The Author(s) 2011. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract The instruments on the Dawn spacecraft are exceptionally well suited to char-acterize and map the surface composition of Vesta in an integrated manner. These include a framing camera with multispectral capa...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
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Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.455.5635 http://www.planetary.brown.edu/pdfs/4374.pdf |
Summary: | © The Author(s) 2011. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract The instruments on the Dawn spacecraft are exceptionally well suited to char-acterize and map the surface composition of Vesta in an integrated manner. These include a framing camera with multispectral capabilities, a high spectral resolution near-infrared imaging spectrometer, and a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer. Three examples of is-sues addressed at Vesta are: (1) What is the composition of Vesta’s interior and differenti-ation state as exposed by the Great South Crater? (2) How has space weathering affected Vesta, both globally and at a local scale? and (3) Are volatiles or hydrated material present on Vesta’s surface? We predict that Dawn finds many surprises, such as an olivine-bearing mantle exposed near the south-pole, a weakly or un-weathered surface that has been rela- |
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